The Southwest Michigan Military Registry is a collection of information on the men and women who served their country during times of war or at peace, in any branch of the military either on American soil or abroad. The veteran may have served at any time during our country's history. The only requirement is that they had resided at some time in their lives in Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo or Van Buren County in Michigan.

About this Registry and Collection

The Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society created this registry through a cooperative alliance with theVan Buren District Library.

The Southwest Michigan Military Registry and Collection is archived in the

This collection is made accessible to researchers with the assistance of library staff.

Registration is FREE and may be done by anyone who can provide proof of service of a veteran, living or deceased.

Personal information needed to register your veteran• Military service, war or peacetime• Other form of service• Country served in• Branch of service• Length of service• Description of service• Evidence of service• Pension, if applicable• Birth date & place• Death date & place• Burial site, cemetery/city/state/country• Grave site appropriately marked• Family members: parents, siblings, spouse, children

Proof of service must accompany the registration and may include: Newspaper items Obituaries Service papers Pension papers Photo of tombstone w/military reference Cemetery records Unit histories & rosters Military organization records(American Legion, GAR, VFW, etc.) Any other printed documentationdescribing service

Registration requests personal and family information. Items that may be used to provide this information may include:• Bible records• Death certificates• Birth certificates• Grave markers• Family Group Sheets• Pedigree or Ancestral Charts• Censuses• City Directories

Completed registrations with proof of service and supplemental information should be mailed to: